Hydrocracking with ultra large pore size catalysts

ABSTRACT

A hydrocracking process uses a catalyst which is based on an ultra-large pore crystalline material. The crystalline material has pores of at least 13 Å diameter arranged in a uniform manner and exhibits unusually large sorption capacity demonstrated by its benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene/100 grams (50 torr and 25° C.). A preferred form of the catalyst has a hexagonal structure which exhibits a hexagonal electron diffraction pattern that can be indexed with a d 100  value greater than about 18 Å. The hydrocracking catalysts based on these materials are capable of producing hydrocracked products of improved quality with lower nitrogen and aromatic content.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a process for hydrocracking and more particularly to a process for catalytically hydrocracking petroleum feedstocks to produce distillate products of improved characteristics, especially low nitrogen content.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The crystalline catalytic materials used in the present process are described in copending application Ser. No. 07/625,245 (C. T. Krege et al) filed 10 Dec. 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,684 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/470,008, filed 25 Jan. 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,643.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydrocracking is a process which has achieved widespread use in petroleum refining for converting various petroleum fractions to lighter and more valuable products, especially distillates such as jet fuels, diesel oils and heating oils. Hydrocracking is generally carried out in conjunction with an initial hydrotreating step in which the heteroatom-containing impurities in the feed are hydrogenated without a significant degree of bulk conversion. During this initial step, the heteroatoms, principally nitrogen and sulfur, are converted to inorganic form (ammonia, hydrogen-sulfide) and these gases may be removed prior to the subsequent hydrocracking step although the two stages may be combined in cascade without interstage separation as, for example, in the Unicracking-JHC process and in the moderate pressure hydrocracking process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,275.

In the second stage of the operation, the hydrotreated feedstock is contacted with a bifunctional catalyst which possesses both acidic and hydrogenation/dehydrogenation functionality. In this step, the characteristic hydrocracking reactions occur in the presence of the catalyst. Polycyclic aromatics in the feed are hydrogenated, and ring opening of aromatic and napthenic rings takes place together with dealkylation. Further hydrogenation may take place upon opening of the aromatic rings. Depending upon the severity of the reaction conditions, the polycyclic aromatics in the feed will be hydrocracked to paraffinic materials or, under less severe conditions, to monocylic aromatics as well as paraffins. Napthenic and aromatic rings may be present in the product, for example, as substituted napthenes and substituted polycyclic aromatics in the higher boiling products, depending upon the degree of operational severity.

The bifunctional catalyst typically comprises a metal component which provides the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation functionality and a porous, inorganic oxide support provides the acidic function. The metal component typically comprises a combination of metals from Groups IVA, VIA and VIIIA of the Periodic Table (IUPAC Table) although single metals may also be encountered. Combinations of metals from Groups VIA and VIIIA are especially preferred, such as nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-molybdenum, nickel-tungsten, cobalt-nickel-molybdenum and nickel-tungsten-titanium. Noble metals of Group VIIIA especially platinum or palladium may be encountered but are not typically used for treating high boiling feeds which tend to contain significant quantities of heteroatoms which function as poisons for these metals.

The porous support which provides the acidic functionality in the catalyst may comprise either an amorphous or a crystalline material or both. Amorphous materials have significant advantages for processing very high boiling feeds which contain significant quantities of bulky polycyclic materials (aromatics as well as polynapthenes) since the amorphous materials usually possesses pores extending over a wide range of sizes and the larger pores, frequently in the size range of 100 to 400 Angstroms (Å) are large enough to provide entry of the bulky components of the feed into the interior structure of the material where the acid-catalyzed reactions may take place. Typical amorphous materials of this kind include alumina and silica-alumina and mixtures of the two, possibly modified with other inorganic oxides such as silica, magnesia or titania.

Crystalline materials, especially the large pore size zeolites such as zeolites X and Y, have been found to be useful for a number of hydrocracking applications since they have the advantage, as compared to the amorphous materials, of possessing a greater degree of activity, which enables the hydrocracking to be carried out at lower temperatures at which the accompanying hydrogenation reactions are thermodynamically favored. In addition, the crystalline catalysts tend to be more stable in operation than the amorphous materials such as alumina. The crystalline materials may, however, not be suitable for all applications since even the largest pore sizes in these materials, typically about 7.4 Å in the X and Y zeolites, are too small to permit access by various bulky species in the feed. For this reason, hydrocracking of residuals fractions and high boiling feeds has generally required an amorphous catalyst of rather lower activity.

It would be desirable, if possible, to integrate the advantages of the amorphous and the crystalline material in hydrocracking catalysts and although the possibility of using active supports for crystalline materials has been proposed, the difference in activity and selectivity between the amorphous and crystalline materials has not favored the utilization of such catalysts.

The crystalline hydrocracking catalysts generally tend to produce significant quantities of gasoline boiling range materials (approximately 330° F.-, 165° C.-) materials as product. Since hydrocracked gasolines tend to be of relatively low octane and require further treatment as by reforming before the product can be blended into the refinery gasoline pool, hydrocracking is usually not an attractive route for the production of gasoline. On the other hand, it is favorable to the production of distillate fractions, especially jet fuels, heating oils and diesel fuels since the hydrocracking process reduces the heteroatom impurities characteristically present in these fractions to the low level desirable for these products. The selectivity of crystalline aluminosilicate catalysts for distillate production may be improved by the use of highly siliceous zeolites, for example, the zeolites possessing a silica:alumina ratio of 50:1 or more, as described in U.S. Pat. No. (Partridge et al), but even with this advance in the technology, it would still be desirable to integrate the characteristics of the amorphous materials with their large pore sizes capable of accommodating the bulky components of typical hydrocracking feeds, with the activity of the zeolite catalysts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have now found that a group of mesoporous siliceous materials having a novel and unique pore geometry may be used as the basis for hydrocracking catalysts of excellent properties. These mesoporous siliceous materials are characterized by a regular, crystalline microstructure with uniform pores having a cell diameter greater than 13 Å and typically in the range of 20 to 100 Å. These crystalline catalytic materials are readily characterized by their X-ray diffraction pattern which includes at least one peak having a relative intensity of 100; they have a high surface area and porosity which is manifested by a benzene adsorption greater than 15 g. benzene per 100 g. of the crystalline material at 50 torr and 25° C. Most prominent among these materials is a new metallosilicate having a structure identified as MCM-41 which is usually synthesized with Bronsted acid sites by incorporating a tetrahedrally coordinated trivalent element such as Al, Ga, B, or Fe within the silicate framework. Aluminosilicate materials of this type possess good thermal and chemical stability, properties favored for acid catalysis. The unique structure of these materials enables hydrocracking to be carried out under advantageous conditions with excellent results, especially in the reduction of heteroatom contaminants.

The hydrocracking is preferably carried out under moderate pressure conditions, typically at total system pressures of under 1500 psig (about 10,445 kPa abs) and in most cases under 1000 psig (about 7,000 kPa abs) or even lower, for example, under about 800 psig (about 5620 kPa abs) using the mesoporous catalysts. These catalysts exhibit kerosene and distillate yield selectivities in fuels hydrocracking which are comparable to current state-of-the-art amorphous catalysts currently used in petroleum refineries. The bottoms produced by the present invention have product quality benefits (lower nitrogen and aromatics) compared to those produced from amorphous catalysts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are graphical representations of the performance of the present hydrocracking catalysts, as described below in the Examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Feedstock

The feedstock for the present process is usually a heavy oil fraction having an initial boiling point of 200° C. (about 400° F.) and normally of 345° C. (about 650° F.) or higher, although the present catalysts may also be used for hydrocracking lighter fractions such as naphtha or Udex raffinates or extracts and light cycle oil. Suitable high boiling feedstocks include gas oils such as vacuum gas oil, coker gas oil, lube extracts produced by the solvent extraction of lube oil fractions using solvents such as phenol, furfural or N-methyl-pyrrolidone, visbreaker oil or deasphalted oil. Normally, the feedstock will have an extended boiling range, e.g. 345° C. to 590° C. (about 650° F. to 1100° F.) but may be of more limited ranges with certain feedstocks or alternatively may include or comprise non-distillable i.e. residual, fractions. The heteroatom is not critical: the nitrogen content will generally be in the range 200 to 1500 ppmw. Likewise, the sulfur content is not critical and typically may range as high as 5 percent by weight. Sulfur contents of 2.0 to 3.0 percent by weight are common. The heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock will normally contain a substantial amount boiling above 230° C. (450° F.) and will normally have an initial boiling point of at least about 290° C. (about 550° F.), more usually about 345° C. (about 650° F.). Typical boiling ranges will be about 345° to 565° C. (about 650° to 1050° F.) or about 345° to 510° C. (650° to 950° F.) but oils with a narrower boiling range may, of course, be processed, for example, those with a boiling range of about 345° to 455° C. (about 650° to 850° F.). Heavy gas oils are often of this kind as are heavy cycle oils and other non-residual materials. It is possible to co-process materials boiling below 260° C. (about 500° F.) but the degree of conversion will be lower for such components. Feedstocks containing lighter ends of this kind will normally have an initial boiling point above 150° C. (about 300° F.).

The heavy oil feeds will comprise high molecular weight long chain paraffins and high molecular weight aromatics with a large proportion of fused ring aromatics. During the processing, the fused ring aromatics are hydrogenated by the metal function on the catalyst, naphthenes are cracked by the acidic catalyst and the paraffinic cracking products, together with paraffinic components of the initial feedstock undergo isomerization to iso-paraffins with some cracking to lower molecular weight materials. Hydrogenation of unsaturated side chains on the monocyclic cracking residues of the original polycyclics is catalyzed by the metal component of the hydrocracking catalyst to form substituted monocyclic aromatics which are highly desirable end products.

High quality fuel products exemplified by low sulfur, high hydrogen content, high cetane number (30-45) diesel fuel oils and similar high smoke point jet fuels (typical smoke point 20-25 mm) may be obtained with suitable VGO feeds.

Process Conditions General

The feedstock is heated to an elevated temperature and is then passed over the hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts in the presence of hydrogen. Because the thermodynamics of hydrocracking become unfavorable at temperatures above about 450° C. (about 850° F.) temperatures above this value will not normally be used. In addition, because the hydrotreating and hydrocracking reactions are exothermic, the feedstock need not be heated to the temperature desired in the catalyst bed which is normally in the range 290°, usually 360° C. to 440° C. (about 550°, usually 675° F. to 825° F.). At the beginning of the process cycle, the temperature employed will be at the lower end of this range but as the catalyst ages, the temperature may be increased in order to maintain the desired degree of activity.

The heavy oil feedstock is passed over the catalysts in the presence of hydrogen. The space velocity of the oil is usually in the range 0.1 to 10 LHSV, preferably 0.2 to 2.0 LHSV and the hydrogen circulation rate from 250 to 1000 n.1.1⁻¹. (about 1400 to 5600 SCF/bbl) and more usually from 300 to 800 (about 1685 to 4500 SCF/bbl). Hydrogen partial pressure is usually at least 75 percent of the total system pressure with reactor inlet pressures normally being in the range of 400 to 1500 psig (about 2860 to about 10445 kPa abs), more commonly from 800 to 1200 psig (about 5620 to 8375 kPa abs) for low to moderate pressure operation, which is the preferred mode with the present catalyst, although high pressure operation above 1500 psig (about 10445 kPa abs) is also feasible and with similar advantages, especially for fuels hydrocracking. In the high pressure mode, pressures from about 1500 to 5000 psig (about 10445 to 34575 kPa abs) are typical although higher pressures may also be utilized with the upper limit usually being set by equipment constraints. When operating at low conversions, for example, less than 50 weight percent conversion to 345° C.-(about 650° F.-) products, the pressure may be considerably lower than normal, conventional practices. We have found that total system pressures of about 700 to 1200 psig (about 4930 to 8375 kPa abs) are satisfactory, as compared to the pressures of at least 1500 psig (about 10445 kPa) normally used in commercial hydrocracking processes. Low conversion may be obtained by suitable selection of other reaction parameters, e.g., temperature, space velocity, choice of catalyst, and even lower pressures may be used. Low pressures are desirable from the point of view of equipment design since less massive and consequently cheaper equipment will be adequate. Similarly, lower pressures usually influence less aromatic saturation and thereby permit economy in the total amount of hydrogen consumed in the process.

The relative proportions of the hydrocracking and the hydrotreating catalysts may be varied according to the feedstock in order to convert the nitrogen in the feedstock to ammonia before the charge passes to the hydrocracking step; the object is to reduce the nitrogen level of the charge to a point where the desired degree of conversion by the hydrocracking catalyst is attained with the optimum combination of space velocity and reaction temperature. The greater the amount of nitrogen in the feed, the greater then will be the proportion of hydrotreating (denitrogenation) catalyst relative to the hydrocracking catalyst. If the amount of nitrogen in the feed is low, the catalyst ratio may be as low as 10:90 (by volume, denitrogenation: hydrocracking). In general, however, ratios between 25:75 to 75:25 will be used. With many stocks an approximately equal volume ratio will be suiable, e.g. 40:60, 50:50 or 60:40.

The overall conversion may be maintained at varying levels depending on the nature of the feed and on the desired product charactristics. It is possible to operate the process at a low conversion level, less than 50 weight percent to lower boiling products, usually 340° C.-(650° F.-) products from the heavy oil feedstocks used while still maintaining satisfactory product quality. The conversion may, of course, be maintained at even lower levels, e.g. 30 or 40 percent by weight. The degree of cracking to gas (C₄ -) which occurs at these low conversion figures is correspondingly low and so is the conversion to naphtha (200° C.-, 400° F.-); the distillate selectivity of the process is accordingly high and overcracking to lighter and less desired products is minimized. It is believed that in cascade operation this effect is procured, in part, by the effect of the ammonia carried over from the first stage. Control of conversion may be effected by conventional expedients such as control of temperature, pressure, space velocity and other reaction parameters.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the presence of nitrogen and sulfur compounds in the second stage feed does not adversely affect catalyst aging in the absence of interstage separation and, in fact, the present hydrocracking catalysts have been found to be extremely effective in reducing the nitrogen content of the feed, as shown below.

The present process has the advantage that it may be operated under low to moderate pressure conditions in existing low pressure equipment. For example, if a desulfurizer is available, it may be used with relatively few modifications since the present process may be operated at low pressures comparable to the low severity conditions used in desulfurization. This may enable substantial savings in capital costs to be made since existing refinery units may be adapted to increase the pool of distillate products.

Hydrotreating

The feed is preferably passed over a hydrotreating catalyst before the hydrocracking catalyst in order to convert nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds to gaseous ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. At this stage, hydrocracking is minimized but partial hydrogenation of polycyclic aromatics proceeds, together with a limited degree of conversion to lower boiling (345° C.-, 650° F.-) products. The catalyst used in this stage may be a conventional denitrogenation (denitrification) catalyst. Catalysts of this type are relatively immune to poisoning by the nitrogenous and sulfurous impurities in the feedstock and, generally comprise a non-noble metal component supported on an amorphous, porous carrier such as silica, alumina, silica-alumina or silica-magnesia. Because extensive cracking is not desired in this stage of the process, the acidic functionality of the carrier may be relatively low compared to that of the subsequent hydrocracking catalyst. The metal component may be a single metal from Groups VIA and VIIIA of the Periodic Table such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, or a combination of metals such as nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-molybdenum, nickel-tungsten or nickel-tungsten-titanium. Generally, the metal component will be selected for good hydrogen transfer activity; the catalyst as a whole will have good hydrogen transfer and minimal cracking characteristics. The catalyst should be presulfided in the normal way in order to convert the metal component (usually impregnated into the carrier and converted to oxide) to the corresponding sulfide.

In the hydrotreating (denitrogenation) stage, the nitrogen and sulfur impurities are converted to ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. At the same time, the polycyclic aromatics are partially hydrogenated to form naphthenes and hydroaromatics which are more readily cracked in the second stage. The effluent from the first stage may be passed directly to the second or hydrocracking stage without the conventional interstage separation of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen quenching may be carried out in order to control the effluent temperature and to control the catalyst temperature in the second stage. However, interstage separation of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide and light fractions may be carried out, especially with the noble metal hydrocracking catalysts which are more sensitive to the impurities.

Hydrocracking

The effluent from the denitrogenation/desulfurization stage is passed to the hydrocracking step to crack partially hydrogenated aromatics and carry out the other characteristic reactions which take place over the hydrocracking catalyst.

Catalyst Metal Component

The hydrocracking catalyst is a bifunctional catalyst which comprises a mesoporous crystalline material as described below as the component which acts as a support and in addition, provides the desired acidic functionality for the hydrocracking reactions, together with a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component. The hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component is provided by a metal or combination of metals. Noble metals of Group VIIIA, especially palladium, platinum, or base metals of Groups IVA, VIA and VIIIA, especially chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt and nickel, may be used. The combination of at least one Group VIA metal such as tungsten with at least one Group VIIA metal such as nickel is particularly preferred for many applications, for example, combinations such as nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-nickel, nickel-tungsten, cobalt-nickel-molybdenum and nickel-tungsten-titanium. For certain applications palladium or platinum is preferred.

The content of the metal component will vary according to its catalytic activity. Thus, the highly active noble metals may be used in smaller amounts than the less active base metals. For example, about 1 wt. percent or less palladium or platinum will be effective and in a preferred base metal combination, about 7 wt. percent nickel and about 2.1 to about 21 wt. percent tungsten, expressed as metal. The present support materials are, however, notable in that they are capable of including a greater proportion of metal than previous support materials because of their extraordinarily large surface area. The metal component may exceed about 30 percent in a monolayer. The hydrogenation component can be exchanged onto the support material, impregnated into it or physically admixed with it. If the metal is to be impregnated into or exchanged onto the mesoporous support, it may be done, for example, by treating the zeolite with a palladium or platinum metal-containing ion. Suitable platinum compounds include chloroplatinic acid, platinous chloride and various compounds containing the platinum ammine complex. The metal compounds may be either compounds in which the metal is present in the cation of the compound and compounds in which it is present in the anion of the compound. Both types of compounds can be used. Palladium or platinum compounds in which the metal is in the form of a cation of cationic complex, e.g., PD(NH₃)₄ Cl₂ or Pt(NH₃)₄ Cl₂ are particularly useful, as are anionic complexes such as the vanadate and metatungstate ions. Cationic forms of other metals are also very useful since they may be exchanged onto the crystalline material or impregnated into it.

The acidic component of the hydrocracking catalyst is a mesoporous crystalline material which is described in detail below. When it is used in the present catalysts, the mesoporous crystalline material is at least partly in the hydrogen form in order to provide the desired acidic functionality for the cracking reactions which are to take place.

It may be desirable to incorporate the catalyst in another material resistant to the temperature and other conditions employed in the process. Such matrix materials include synthetic and naturally occurring substances such as inorganic materials, e.g. clay, silica and metal oxides. Matrix materials may themselves possess catalytic properties, generally of an acidic nature.

The catalyst may be treated by conventional pre-sulfiding treatments, e.g. by heating in the presence of hydrogen sulfide, to convert oxide forms of the metals such as CoO or NiO to their corresponding sulfides.

Mesoporous Crystalline Component

The catalytic material used in the present invention includes a novel synthetic composition of matter comprising an ultra-large pore size crystalline phase. This material is an inorganic, porous, non-layered crystalline phase material which can be characterized (in its calcined form) by pores with diameters of at least 13 Å and an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least one peak at a d-spacing greater than about 18 Å with a relative intensity of 100. The high porosity of these materials is manifested by a high sorption capacity which, for benzene, is greater than 15 grams of benzene per 100 grams of the the material at 50 torr and 25° C.

The preferred form of the crystalline material is an inorganic, porous, non-layered material having a hexagonal arrangement of uniformly-sized pores with a maximum perpendicular cross-section pore dimension of at least about 13 Å, and typically within the range of from about 13 Å to about 200 Å. A preferred form of this crystalline composition, identified as MCM-41, exhibits a hexagonal electron diffraction pattern that can be indexed with a d₁₀₀ value greater than about 18 Å, and a benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene/100 grams crystal at 50 torr and 25° C. These materials are described in Ser. No. 07/625,245 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,684 and also below.

The inorganic, non-layered mesoporous crystalline material used as a component of the catalyst has the following composition:

    M.sub.n/q (W.sub.a X.sub.b Y.sub.c Z.sub.d O.sub.h)

wherein W is a divalent element, such as a divalent first row transition metal, e.g. manganese, cobalt and iron, and/or magnesium, preferably cobalt; X is a trivalent element, such as aluminum, boron, iron and/or gallium, preferably aluminum; Y is a tetravalent element such as silicon and/or germanium, preferably silicon; Z is a pentavalent element, such as phosphorus; M is one or more ions, such as, for example, ammonium, Group IA, IIA and VIIB ions, usually hydrogen, sodium and/or fluoride ions; n is the charge of the composition excluding M expressed as oxides; q is the weighted molar average valence of M; n/q is the number of moles or mole fraction of M; a, b, c, and d are mole fractions of W, X, Y and Z, respectively; h is a number of from 1 to 2.5; and

    (a+b+c+d)=1.

A preferred embodiment of the above crystalline material is when (a+b+c) is greater than d, and h=2. A further embodiment is when a and d=0, and h=2. The preferred materials for use in making the present hydrocracking catalysts are the aluminosilicates.

In the as-synthesized form, the catalytic material has a composition, on an anhydrous basis, expressed empirically as follows:

    rRM.sub.n/q (W.sub.a X.sub.b Y.sub.c Z.sub.d O.sub.h)

where R is the total organic material not included in M as an ion, and r is the coefficient for R, i.e. the number of moles or mole fraction of R.

The M and R components are associated with the material as a result of their presence during crystallization, and are easily removed or, in the case of M, replaced by post-crystallization methods described below.

To the extent desired, the original M, e.g. sodium or chloride, ions of the as-synthesized material of this invention can be replaced in accordance with conventional ion-exchange techniques. Preferred replacing ions include metal ions, hydrogen ions, hydrogen precursor, e.g. ammonium, ions and mixtures of these ions. Particularly preferred ions are those which provide the desired metal functionality in the final hydrocracking catalyst. These include hydrogen, rare earth metals and metals of Groups VIIA (e.g. Mn), VIIIA (e.g. Ni),IB (e.g. Cu), IVB (e.g. Sn), and VIIB (e.g. F) of the Periodic Table of the Elements and mixtures of these ions.

The crystalline (by which is meant, having sufficient order to provide a diffraction pattern such as, for example, by X-ray, electron or neutron diffraction, following calcination with at least one peak) mesoporous material may be characterized by its structure, which includes extremely large pore windows as well as by its high sorption capacity. The term "mesoporous" is used here to indicate crystals having uniform pores within the range of from about 13 Å to about 200 Å. The mesoporous materials have uniform pores within the range of from about 13 Å to about 200 Å, more usually from about 15 Å to about 100 Å. Since these pores are significantly larger than those of other crystalline materials, it is appropriate to refer to them as ultra-large pore size materials. For the purposes of this application, a working definition of "porous" is a material that adsorbs at least 1 gram of a small molecule, such as Ar, N₂, n-hexane or cyclohexane, per 100 grams of the solid.

The catalytic material can be distinguished from other porous inorganic solids by the regularity of its large open pores, whose pore size more nearly resembles that of amorphous or paracrystalline materials, but whose regular arrangement and uniformity of size (pore size distribution within a single phase of, for example, ±25%, usually ±15% or less of the average pore size of that phase) resemble more those of crystalline framework materials such as zeolites. The calcined inorganic, non-layered crystalline material may also be characterized as having a pore size of about 13 Å or greater as measured by physisorption measurements, described below. Pore size is considered a maximum perpendicular cross-section pore dimension of the crystal.

The size of the pores in the present mesoporous catalytic materials is large enough that the spatiospecific selectivity with respect to transition state species in reactions such as cracking is minimized (Chen et al., "Shape Selective Catalysis in Industrial Applications", 36 CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, pgs. 41-61 (1989) to which reference is made for a discussion of the factors affecting shape selectivity). Diffusional limitations are also minimized as a result of the very large pores. For these reasons, the present compositions are especially useful for catalyzing the hydrocracking reactions with high boiling feeds containing components with bulky molecular configurations.

The preferred materials have a hexagonal arrangement of large open channels that can be synthesized with open internal diameters from about 13 Å to about 200 Å. The term "hexagonal" is intended to encompass not only materials that exhibit mathematically perfect hexagonal symmetry within the limits of experimental measurement, but also those with significant observable deviations from that ideal state. A working definition as applied to the microstructure of the present invention would be that most channels in the material would be surrounded by six nearest neighbor channels at roughly the same distance. Defects and imperfections will cause significant numbers of channels to violate this criterion to varying degrees, depending on the quality of the material's preparation. Samples which exhibit as much as ±25% random deviation from the average repeat distance between adjacent channels still clearly give recognizable images of the present ultra-large pore materials. Comparable variations are also observed in the d₁₀₀ values from the electron diffraction patterns.

The most regular preparations of the material of the present invention give an X-ray diffraction pattern with a few distinct maxima in the extreme low angle region. The positions of these peaks approximately fit the positions of the hkO reflections from a hexagonal lattice. The X-ray diffraction pattern, however, is not always a sufficient indicator of the presence of these materials, as the degree of regularity in the microstructure and the extent of repetition of the structure within individual particles affect the number of peaks that will be observed. Indeed, preparations with only one distinct peak in the low angle region of the X-ray diffraction pattern have been found to contain substantial amounts of the material in them. Other techniques to illustrate the microstructure of this material are transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Properly oriented specimens of the material show a hexagonal arrangement of large channels and the corresponding electron diffraction pattern gives an approximately hexagonal arrangement of diffraction maxima. The d₁₀₀ spacing of the electron diffraction patterns is the distance between adjacent spots on the hkO projection of the hexagonal lattice and is related to the repeat distance a₀ between channels observed in the electron micrographs through the formula d₁₀₀ =a₀ /3/2. This d₁₀₀ spacing observed in the electron diffraction patterns corresponds to the d-spacing of a low angle peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the material. The most highly ordered preparations of the material obtained so far have 20-40 distinct spots observable in the electron diffraction patterns. These patterns can be indexed with the hexagonal hkO subset of unique reflections of 100, 110, 200, 210, etc., and their symmetry-related reflections.

In its calcined form, the crystalline material may be further characterized by an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least one peak at a position greater than about 18 Angstrom Units d-spacing (4.909° 2θ for Cu K-alpha radiation) which corresponds to the d₁₀₀ value of the electron diffraction pattern of the material, and an equilibrium benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene/100 grams crystal at 50 torr and 25° C. (basis: crystal material having been treated in an attempt to insure no pore blockage by incidental contaminants, if necessary).

The equilibrium benzene adsorption capacity characteristic of this material is measured on the basis of no pore blockage by incidental contaminants. For instance, the sorption test will be conducted on the crystalline material phase having any pore blockage contaminants and water removed by ordinary methods. Water may be removed by dehydration techniques, e.g. thermal treatment. Pore blocking inorganic amorphous materials, e.g. silica, and organics may be removed by contact with acid or base or other chemical agents such that the detrital material will be removed without detrimental effect on the crystal.

More particularly, the calcined crystalline non-layered material may be characterized by an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least two peaks at positions greater than about 10 Å d-spacing (8.842 °θ for Cu K-alpha radiation), at least one of which is at a position greater than about 18 Angstrom Units d-spacing, and no peaks at positions less than about 10 Å d-spacing with relative intensity greater than about 20% of the strongest peak. Still more particularly, the X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined material of this invention will have no peaks at positions less than about 10 Å d-spacing with relative intensity greater than about 10% of the strongest peak. In any event, at least one peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern will have a d-spacing that corresponds to the d₁₀₀ value of the electron diffraction pattern of the material.

X-ray diffraction data were collected on a Scintag PAD X automated diffraction system employing theta-theta geometry, Cu K-alpha radiation, and an energy dispersive X-ray detector. Use of the energy dispersive X-ray detector eliminated the need for incident or diffracted beam monochromators. Both the incident and diffracted X-ray beams were collimated by double slit incident and diffracted collimation systems. The slit sizes used, starting from the X-ray tube source, were 0.5, 1.0, 0.3 and 0.2 mm, respectively. Different slit systems may produce differing intensities for the peaks. The materials of the present invention that have the largest pore sizes may require more ii highly collimated incident X-ray beams in order to resolve the low angle peak from the transmitted incident X-ray beam.

The diffraction data were recorded by step-scanning at 0.04 degrees of 2θ, where θ is the Bragg angle, and a counting time of 10 seconds for each step. The interplanar spacings, d's, were calculated in Å (A), and the relative intensities of the lines, I/I_(O), where I_(O) is one-hundredth of the intensity of the strongest line, above background, were derived with the use of a profile fitting routine. The intensities were uncorrected for Lorentz and polarization effects. The relative intensities are given in terms of the symbols vs=very strong (75-100), s=strong (50-74), m=medium (25-49) and w=weak (0-24). The diffraction data listed as single lines may consist of multiple overlapping lines which under certain conditions, such as very high experimental resolution or crystallographic changes, may appear as resolved or partially resolved lines. Typically, crystallographic changes can include minor changes in unit cell parameters and/or a change in crystal symmetry, without a substantial change in structure. These minor effects, including changes in relative intensities, can also occur as a result of differences in cation content, framework composition, nature and degree of pore filling, thermal and/or hydrothermal history, and peak width/shape variations due to particle size/shape effects, structural disorder or other factors known to those skilled in the art of X-ray diffraction.

The equilibrium benzene adsorption capacity is determined by contacting the material of the invention, after dehydration or calcination at, for example, about 540° C. for at least about one hour and other treatment, if necessary, in an attempt to remove any pore blocking contaminants, at 25° C. and 50 torr benzene until equilibrium is reached. The weight of benzene sorbed is then determined as described below.

The ammonium form of the catalytic material may be readily converted to the hydrogen form by thermal treatment (calcination). This thermal treatment is generally performed by heating one of these forms at a temperature of at least 400° C. for at least 1 minute and generally not longer than 20 hours, preferably from about 1 to about 10 hours. While subatmospheric pressure can be employed for the thermal treatment, atmospheric pressure is desired for reasons of convenience, such as in air, nitrogen, ammonia, etc. The thermal treatment can be performed at a temperature up to about 750° C.

The crystalline material can be prepared by one of several methods, each with particular limitations.

A first method involves a reaction mixture having an X₂ O₃ /YO₂ mole ratio of from 0 to about 0.5, but an Al₂ O₃ /SiO₂ mole ratio of from 0 to 0.01, a crystallization temperature of from about 25° C. to about 250° C., preferably from about 50° C. to about 175° C., and an organic directing agent, hereinafter more particularly described, or, preferably a combination of that organic directing agent plus an additional organic directing agent, described below. This first method comprises preparing a reaction mixture containing sources of, for example, alkali or alkaline earth metal (M), e.g. sodium or potassium, cation if desired, one or a combination of oxides selected from the group consisting of divalent element W, e.g. cobalt, trivalent element X, e.g. aluminum, tetravalent element Y, e.g. silicon, and pentavalent element Z, e.g. phosphorus, an organic (R) directing agent, described below, and a solvent or solvent mixture, such as, for example, C₁ -C₆ alcohols, C₁ -C₆ diols and/or water, especially water. The reaction mixture has a composition, in terms of mole ratios of oxides, within the following ranges:

    ______________________________________                                         Reactants         Useful     Preferred                                         ______________________________________                                         X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /YO.sub.2                                                                        0 to    0.5    0.001 to                                                                              0.5                                    Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2                                                                      0 to    0.01   0.001 to                                                                              0.01                                   X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /(YO.sub.2 + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5)                                                    0.1 to  100    0.1 to 20                                     X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /(YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5)                                               0.1 to  100    0.1 to 20                                     Solvent/          1 to    1500   5 to   1000                                   (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            OH.sup.- /YO.sub.2                                                                               0 to    10     0 to   5                                      (M.sub.2/e O + R.sub.2/f O)/                                                                     0.01 to 20     0.05 to                                                                               5                                      (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            M.sub.2/e O/      0 to    10     0 to   5                                      (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            R.sub.2/f O/      0.01 to 2.0    0.03 to                                                                               1.0                                    (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub. 2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                           ______________________________________                                    

where e and f are the weighted average valences of M and R, respectively.

In this first method, when no Z and/or W oxides are added to the reaction mixture, the pH is important and must be maintained at from about 9 to about 14. When Z and/or W oxides are present in the reaction mixture, the pH is not narrowly important for synthesis of the present crystalline material. In this, as well as the following methods for synthesis of the present material the R_(2/f) O/(YO₂ +WO+Z₂ O₅ +X₂ O₃) ratio is important. When this ratio is less than 0.01 or greater than 2.0, impurity products tend to be synthesized at the expense of the desired crystalline material.

A second method for synthesis of the crystalline material involves a reaction mixture having an X₂ O₃ /YO₂ mole ratio of from about 0 to about 0.5, a crystallization temperature of from about 25° C. to about 250° C., preferably from about 50° C. to about 175° C., and two separate organic directing agents, i.e. the organic and additional organic directing agents, described below. This second method comprises preparing a reaction mixture containing sources of, for example, alkali or alkaline earth metal (M), e.g. sodium or potassium, cation if desired, one or a combination of oxides selected from the group consisting of divalent element W, e.g. cobalt, trivalent element X, e.g. aluminum, tetravalent element Y, e.g. silicon, and pentavalent element Z, e.g. phosphorus, a combination of organic directing agent and additional organic directing agent (R), each described below, and a solvent or solvent mixture, such as, for example, C₁ -C₆ alcohols, C₁ -C₆ diols and/or water, especially water. The reaction mixture has a composition, in terms of mole ratios of oxides, within the following ranges:

    ______________________________________                                         Reactants         Useful     Preferred                                         ______________________________________                                         X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /YO.sub.2                                                                        0 to    0.5    0.001 to                                                                              0.5                                    X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /(YO.sub.2 + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5)                                                    0.1 to  100    0.1 to 20                                     X.sub.2 O.sub.3 /(YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5)                                               0.1 to  100    0.1 to 20                                     Solvent/          1 to    1500   5 to   1000                                   (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            OH.sup.- /YO.sub.2                                                                               0 to    10     0 to   5                                      (M.sub.2/e O + R.sub.2/f O)/                                                                     0.01 to 20     0.05 to                                                                               5                                      (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            M.sub.2/e O/      0 to    10     0 to   5                                      (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            R.sub.2/f O/      0.01 to 2.0    0.12 to                                                                               1.0                                    (YO.sub.2 + WO + Z.sub.2 O.sub.5 + X.sub.2 O.sub.3)                            ______________________________________                                    

where e and f are the weighted average valences of M and R, respectively.

In this second method, when no Z and/or W oxides are added to the reaction mixture, the pH is important and must be maintained at from about 9 to about 14. When Z and/or W oxides are present in the reaction mixture, the precise value of the pH is not important for crystallization.

A third method for synthesis of the crystalline material is where X comprises aluminum and Y comprises silicon, the crystallization temperature must be from about 25° C. to about 175° C., preferably from about 50° C. to about 150° C., and an organic directing agent, described below, or, preferably a combination of that organic directing agent plus an additional organic agent, described below, is used. This third method comprises preparing a reaction mixture containing sources of, for example, alkali or alkaline earth metal (M), e.g. sodium or potassium, cation if desired, one or more sources of aluminum and/or silicon, an organic (R) directing agent, hereinafter more particularly described, and a solvent or solvent mixture, such as, for example C₁ -C₆ alcohols, C₁ -C₆ diols and/or water, especially water. The reaction mixture has a composition, in terms of mole ratios of oxides, within the following ranges: Reactants Useful Preferred

    ______________________________________                                         Reactants     Useful           Preferred                                       ______________________________________                                         Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2                                                                  0 to    0.5      0.001 to                                                                              0.5                                      Solvent/SiO.sub.2                                                                            1 to    1500     5 to   1000                                     OH.sup.- /SiO.sub.2                                                                          0 to    10       0 to   5                                        (M.sub.2/e O + R.sub.2/f O)/                                                                 0.01 to 20       0.05 to                                                                               5                                        (SiO.sub.2 + Al.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                 M.sub.2/e O/  0 to    5        0 to   3                                        (SiO.sub.2 + Al.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                 R.sub.2/f O/  0.01 to 2        0.03 to                                                                               1                                        (SiO.sub.2 + Al.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                 ______________________________________                                    

where e and f are the weighted average valences of M and R, respectively.

In this third method, the pH is important and must be maintained at from about 9 to about 14. This method involves the following steps:

(1) Mix the organic (R) directing agent with the solvent or solvent mixture such that the mole ratio of solvent/R_(2/f) O is within the range of from about 50 to about 800, preferably from about 50 to 500. This mixture constitutes the "primary template" for the synthesis method.

(2) To the primary template mixture of step (1) add the sources of oxides, e.g. silica and/or alumina such that the ratio of R_(2/f) O/(SiO₂ +Al₂ O₃) is within the range of from about 0.01 to about 2.0.

(3) Agitate the mixture resulting from step (2) at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 40° C., preferably for from about 5 minutes to about 3 hours.

(4) Allow the mixture to stand with or without agitation, preferably at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 1OO° C., and preferably for from about 10 minutes to about 24 hours.

(5) Crystallize the product from step (4) at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 175° C., preferably for from about 1 hour to about 72 hours. Crystallization temperatures higher in the given ranges are most preferred.

A fourth method for the present synthesis involves the reaction mixture used for the third method, but the following specific procedure with tetraethylorthosilicate the source of silicon oxide:

(1) Mix the organic (R) directing agent with the solvent or solvent mixture such that the mole ratio of solvent/R_(2/f) O is within the range of from about 50 to about 800, preferably from about 50 to 500. This mixture constitutes the "primary template" for the synthesis method.

(2) Mix the primary template mixture of step (1) with tetraethylorthosilicate and a source of aluminum oxide, if desired, such that the R_(2/f) O/SiO₂ mole ratio is in the range of from about 0.5 to about 2.0.

(3) Agitate the mixture resulting from step (2) for from about 10 minutes to about 6 hours, preferably from about 30 minutes to about 2 hours, at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 25° C., and a pH of less than 12. This step permits hydrolysis/polymerization to take place and the resultant mixture will appear cloudy.

(4) Crystallize the product from step (3) at a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 150° C., preferably from about 95° C. to about 110° C., for from about 4 to about 72 hours, preferably from about 16 to about 48 hours.

In each of the above methods, batch crystallization of the crystalline material can be carried out under either static or agitated, e.g. stirred, conditions in a suitable reactor vessel, such as for example, polypropylene jars or teflon lined or stainless steel autoclaves. Crystallization may also be conducted continuously in suitable equipment. The total useful range of temperatures for crystallization is noted above for each method for a time sufficient for crystallization to occur at the temperature used, e.g. from about 5 minutes to about 14 days. The crystals are then separated from the liquid and recovered. Following the synthesis, the crystalline material should be subjected to treatment to remove part or all of any organic constituent.

When a source of silicon is used in the synthesis method, it is preferred to use at least in part an organic silicate, such as, for example, a quaternary ammonium silicate. Non-limiting examples of such a silicate include tetramethylammonium silicate and tetraethylorthosilicate.

By adjusting conditions of the synthesis reaction for each method, like temperature, pH and time of reaction, etc., within the above limits, various embodiments of the present non-layered crystalline material with a desired average pore size may be prepared. In particular, changing the pH, the temperature or the reaction time may promote formation of product crystals with different average pore size.

Non-limiting examples of various combinations of W, X, Y and Z contemplated for the first and second synthesis methods include:

    ______________________________________                                         W        X              Y     Z                                                ______________________________________                                         --       Al             Si    --                                               --       Al             --    P                                                --       Al             Si    P                                                Co       Al             --    P                                                Co       Al             Si    P                                                --       --             Si    --                                               ______________________________________                                    

including the combinations of W being Mg, or an element selected from the divalent first row transition metals, e.g. Mn, Co and Fe; X being B, Ga or Fe; and Y being Ge.

An organic directing agent for use in each of the above methods for synthesizing the present material from the respective reaction mixtures is an ammonium or phosphonium ion of the formula R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ Q⁺, i.e.: ##STR1## where Q is nitrogen or phosphorus and wherein at least one of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ is aryl or alkyl of from 6 to about 36 carbon atoms, e.g. --C₆ H₁₃, --C₁₀ H₂₁, --C₁₆ H₃₃ and --C₁₈ H₃₇, or combinations thereof, the remainder of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ being selected from hydrogen, alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and combinations of these. The compound from which the above ammonium or phosphonium ion is derived may be, for example, the hydroxide, halide, silicate, or mixtures of these.

In the first and third methods above it is preferred to have an additional organic directing agent and in the second method it is required to have a combination of the above organic directing agent and an additional organic directing agent. That additional organic directing agent is the ammonium or phosphonium ion of the above directing agent formula wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ together or separately are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms and combinations thereof. Any such combination of organic directing agents go to make up "R" and will be in molar ratio of about 100/1 to about 0.01/1, first above listed organic directing agent/additional organic directing agent.

The particular effectiveness of the required directing agent, when compared with other such agents known to direct synthesis of one or more other crystal structures, is believed due to its ability to function as a template in the above reaction mixture in the nucleation and growth of the desired ultra-large pore crystals with the limitations discussed above. Non-limiting examples of these directing agents include cetyltrimethylammonium, cetyltrimethylphosphonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, cetylpyridinium, myristyltrimethylammonium, decyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium and dimethyldidodecylammonium.

The reaction mixture components can be supplied by more than one source. The reaction mixture can be prepared either batchwise or continuously. Crystal size and crystallization time of the new crystalline material will vary with the nature of the reaction mixture employed and the crystallization conditions.

The crystals prepared by the synthesis procedure can be shaped into a wide variety of particle sizes. Generally speaking, the particles can be in the form of a powder, a granule, or a molded product, such as an extrudate having particle size sufficient to pass through a 2 mesh (Tyler) screen and be retained on a 400 mesh (Tyler) screen. In cases where the catalyst is molded, such as by extrusion, the crystals can be extruded before drying or partially dried and then extruded.

The porous crystalline material may be used in a matrixed or unmatrixed form for this purpose and may suitably be formed into extrudates, pellets or other shapes to permit the passage of gases over the catalyst with the minimum pressure drop. For this purpose, it may be matrixed or bound with active and inactive materials and synthetic or naturally occurring zeolites as well as inorganic materials such as clays, silica and/or metal oxides such as alumina, titania and/or zirconia. The latter may be either naturally occurring or in the form of gelatinous precipitates or gels including mixtures of silica and metal oxides. Use of a material in conjunction with the crystalline material, i.e. combined therewith or present during synthesis of the new crystal, which is active, tends to change the conversion and/or selectivity of the catalyst in certain organic conversion processes. Inactive materials suitably serve as diluents to control the amount of conversion in a given process so that products can be obtained economically and orderly without employing other means for controlling the rate of reaction. It may be desirable to provide at least a part of the foregoing matrix materials in colloidal form so as to facilitate extrusion of the bound catalyst components(s). The relative proportions of finely divided crystalline material and matrix vary widely, with the crystal content ranging from about 1 to about 90 percent by weight and more usually, particularly when the composite is prepared in the form of beads, in the range of about 2 to about 80 weight percent of the composite.

Examples 1 to 19 below illustrate the preparation of the crystalline catalytic material. In these examples, the sorption data for water, cyclohexane, benzene and/or n-hexane, they are Equilibrium Adsorption values determined as follows:

A weighed sample of the adsorbent, after calcination at about 540° C. for at least about 1 hour and other treatment, if necessary, to remove any pore blocking contaminants, is contacted with the desired pure adsorbate vapor in an adsorption chamber. The increase in weight of the adsorbent is calculated as the adsorption capacity of the sample in terms of grams/100 grams adsorbent based on adsorbent weight after calcination at about 540° C. The present composition exhibits an equilibrium benzene adsorption capacity at 50 Torr and 25° C. of greater than about 15 grams/100 grams, particularly greater than about 17.5 g/100 g/ and more particularly greater than about 20 g/100 g.

A preferred way to do this is to contact the desired pure adsorbate vapor in an adsorption chamber evacuated to less than 1 mm at conditions of 12 Torr of water vapor, 40 Torr of n-hexane or cyclohexane vapor, or 50 Torr of benzene vapor, at 25° C. The pressure is kept constant (within about ±0.5 mm) by addition of adsorbate vapor controlled by a manostat during the adsorption period. As adsorbate is adsorbed by the new crystal, the decrease in pressure causes the manostat to open a valve which admits more adsorbate vapor to the chamber to restore the above control pressures. Sorption is complete when the pressure change is not sufficient to activate the manostat.

Another way of doing this for benzene adsorption data is on a suitable thermogravimetric analysis system, such as a computer-controlled 990/951 duPont TGA system. The adsorbent sample is dehydrated (physically sorbed water removed) by heating at, for example, about 350° C. or 500° C. to constant weight in flowing helium. If the sample is in as-synthesized form, e.g. containing organic directing agents, it is calcined at about 540° C. in air and held to constant weight instead of the previously described 350° C. or 500° C. treatment. Benzene adsorption isotherms are measured at 25° C. by blending a benzene saturated helium gas stream with a pure helium gas stream in the proper proportions to obtain the desired benzene partial pressure. The value of the adsorption at 50 Torr of benzene is taken from a plot of the adsorption isotherm.

In the examples, percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1

One hundred grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution, prepared by contacting a 29 wt. % N,N,N- trimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium chloride solution with a hydroxide-for-halide exchange resin, was combined with 100 grams of an aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate (10% silica) with stirring. Twenty-five grams of HiSil, a precipitated hydrated silica containing about 6 wt. % free water and about 4.5 wt. % bound water of ii hydration and having an ultimate particle size of about 0.02 micron, was added. The resulting mixture was placed in a polypropylene bottle, which was kept in a steam box at 95° C. overnight. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  2.7  moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          392  moles SiO.sub.2                                                           35.7 moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      61.7 moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       6231 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 475 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               8.3                                                                   Cyclohexane                                                                             22.9                                                                  n-Hexane 18.2                                                                  Benzene  21.5                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The product of this example may be characterized by X-ray diffractiion as including a very strong relative intensity line at 37.8±2.0 Å d-spacing, and weak lines at 21.6±1.0 and 19.2±1.0 Å. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) produced images of a hexagonal arrangement of uniform pores and hexagonal electron diffraction pattern with a d₁₀₀ value of about 39 Å.

EXAMPLE 2

One hundred grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 was combined with 100 grams of an aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium (TMA) hydroxide (25%) with stirring. Twenty-five grams of HiSil, a precipitated hydrated silica containing about 6 wt. % free water and about 4.5 wt. % bound water of hydration and having an ultimate particle size of about 0.02 micron, was added. The resulting mixture was placed in a static autoclave at 150° C. overnight. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  2.7  moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          291  moles SiO.sub.2                                                           35.7 moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      102  moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       6120 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 993 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               7.1                                                                   Cyclohexane                                                                             47.2                                                                  n-Hexane 36.2                                                                  Benzene  49.5                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 39.3±2.0 Å d-spacing, and weak lines at 22.2±1.0 and 19.4±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

A portion of the above product was then contacted with 100% steam at 1450° F. for two hours. The surface area of the steamed material was measured to be 440 m² /g, indicating that about 45% was retained following severe steaming.

Another portion of the calcined product of this example was contacted with 100% steam at 1250° F. for two hours. The surface area of this material was measured to be 718 m² /g, indicating that 72% was retained after steaming at these conditions.

EXAMPLE 3

Water, cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1, aluminum sulfate, HiSil and an aqueous solution of tetrapropylammonium (TPA) bromide (35%) were combined to produce a mixture having a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.65 moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          65   moles SiO.sub.2                                                           8.8  moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      1.22 moles (TPA).sub.2 O                                                       1336 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting mixture was placed in a polypropylene bottle, which was kept in a steam box at 95° C. for 192 hours. The sample was then cooled to room temperature and combined with CTMA hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 and TMA hydroxide (25% by weight) in the weight ratio of 3 parts mixture, 1 part CTMA hydroxide and 2 parts TMA hydroxide. The combined mixture was then placed in a polypropylene bottle and kept in a steam box at 95° C. overnight. The combined mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.65 moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          65   moles SiO.sub.2                                                           15   moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      1.22 moles (TPA).sub.2 O                                                       35.6 moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       2927 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 1085 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H.sub.2 O      11.5                                                            Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-Hexane       39.8                                                            Benzene        62                                                              ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 38.2±2.0 Å d-spacing, and weak lines at 22.2±1.0 and 19.4±1.0 Å. TEM indicated the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 4

Two hundred grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 was combined with 2 grams of Catapal alumina (alpha-alumina monohydrate, 74% alumina) and 100 grams of an aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate (10% silica) with stirring. Twenty-five grams of HiSil, a precipitated hydrated silica containing about 6 wt. % free water and about 4.5 wt. % bound water of hydration and having an ultimate particle size of about 0.02 micron, was added. The resulting mixture was placed in a static autoclave at 150° C. for 48 hours. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.23 moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          33.2 moles SiO.sub.2                                                           6.1  moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      5.2  moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       780  moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 1043 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H.sub.2 O      6.3                                                             Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-Hexane       49.1                                                            Benzene        66.7                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 40.8±2.0 Å d-spacing, and weak lines at 23.1±1.0 and 20.1±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 5

Two-hundred sixty grams of water was combined with 77 grams of phosphoric acid (85%), 46 grams of Catapal alumina (74% alumina), and 24 grams of pyrrolidine (Pyr) with stirring. This first mixture was placed in a stirred autoclave and heated to 150° C. for six days. The material was filtered, washed and air-dried. Fifty grams of this product was slurried with 200 grams of water and 200 grams of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1. Four hundred grams of an aqueous solution of tetraethylamonium silicate (10% silica) was then added to form a second mixture which was placed in a polypropylene bottle and kept in a steam box at 95° C. overnight. The first mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                1.0        moles P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                               0.51       moles (Pyr).sub.2 O                                                 47.2       moles H.sub.2 O                                              ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 707 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               33.2                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             19.7                                                                  n-Hexane 20.1                                                                  Benzene  23.3                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 25.4±1.5 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated the product contained the present ultra-large pore material (see Example 23).

EXAMPLE 6

A solution of 1.35 grams of NaAlO₂ (43.5% Al₂ O₃, 30% Na₂ O) dissolved in 45.2 grams of water was mixed with 17.3 grams of NAOH, 125.3 grams of colloidal silica (40%, Ludox HS-40) and 42.6 grams of 40% aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium (TEA) hydroxide. After stirring overnight, the mixture was heated for 7 days in a steam box (95° C). Following filtration, 151 grams of this solution was mixed with 31 grams of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 and stored in the steam box at 95° C. for 13 days. The mixture had the following relative molar composition:

    ______________________________________                                                  0.25 moles Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                    10   moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          36   moles SiO.sub.2                                                           0.95 moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      2.5  moles (TEA).sub.2 O                                                       445  moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and washed with water and ethanol. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product composition included 0.14 wt. % Na, 68.5 wt. % SiO₂ and 5.1 wt. % Al₂ O₃, and proved to have a benzene equilibrium adsorption capacity of 58.6 grams/100 grams.

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 31.4±1.5 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated that the product contained the present ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 7

A mixture of 300 grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 and 41 grams of colloidal silica (40%, Ludox HS-40) was heated in a 600 cc autoclave at 150° C. for 48 hours with stirring at 200 rpm. The mixture has a composition in terms of moles per mole SiO₂ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.5  mole (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                       46.5 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration, washed with water, then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 10 hours in air.

The calcined product composition included less than 0.01 wt. % Na, about 98.7 wt. % SiO₂ and about 0.01 wt. % Al₂ O₃, and proved to have a surface area of 896 m² /g. The calcined product had the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               8.4                                                                   Cyclohexane                                                                             49.8                                                                  n-Hexane 42.3                                                                  Benzene  55.7                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 40.0±2.0 Å d-spacing and a weak line at 21.2±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product of this example contained at least three separate phases, one of which was the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 8

A mixture of 150 grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 and 21 grams of colloidal silica (40%, Ludox HS-40) with an initial pH of 12.64 was heated in a 300 cc autoclave at 150° C. for 48 hours with stirring at 200 rpm. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole SiO₂ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.5  mole (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                       46.5 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration, washed with water, then calcined at 540° C. for 6 hours in air.

The calcined product composition was measured to include 0.01 wt. % Na, 93.2 wt. % SiO₂ and 0.016 wt. % Al₂ O₃, and proved to have a surface area of 992 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H.sub.2 O      4.6                                                             Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-Hexane       >50                                                             Benzene        62.7                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 43.6±2.0 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 25.1±1.5 and 21.7±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 9

Sodium aluminate (4.15 g) was added slowly into a solution containing 16 g of myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₄ TMABr) in 100 g of water. Tetramethylammonium silicate (100 g-10% SiO₂), HiSil (25 g) and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (14.2 g-25% solution) were then added to the mixture. The mixture was crystallized in an autoclave at 120° C. with stirring for 24 hours.

The product was filtered, washed and air dried. Elemental analysis showed the product contained 53.3 wt. % SiO₂, 3.2 wt. % Al₂ O₃, 15.0 wt. % C, 1.88 wt. % N, 0.11 wt. % Na and 53.5 wt. % ash at 1000° C. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the material after calcination at 540° C. for 1 hour in N₂ and 6 hours in air includes a very strong relative intensity line at 35.3±2.0 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 20.4±1.0 and 17.7±1.0 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

The washed product, having been exchanged with 1N ammonium nitrate solution at room temperature, then calcined, proved to have a surface area of 827 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in g/100 g anhydrous sorbent:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               30.8                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             33.0                                                                  n-Hexane 27.9                                                                  Benzene  40.7                                                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 10

Sodium aluminum (8.3 g) was added slowly into a solution containing 184 g of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (C₁₂ TMAOH, 50%) solution diluted with 480 g of water. UltraSil (50 g) and an aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium silicate (200 g-10% SiO and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (26.38 g-25% solution) were then added to the mixture. The mixture was crystallized in an autoclave at 100° C. with stirring for 24 hours.

The product was filtered, washed and air dried. After calcination at 540° C. for 1 hour in N₂ and 6 hours in air, the X-ray diffraction pattern includes a very strong relative intensity line at 30.4±1.5 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 17.7±1.0 and 15.3±1.0 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

The washed product, having been exchanged with 1N ammonium nitrate solution at room temperature, then calcined, proved to have a surface area of 1078 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in g/100 g anhydrous sorbent:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               32.6                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             38.1                                                                  n-Hexane 33.3                                                                  Benzene  42.9                                                           ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 11

A solution of 4.9 grams of NaAlO₂ (43.5% Al₂ O₃, 30% NaO₂) in 37.5 grams of water was mixed with 46.3 cc of 40% aqueous tetraethylammonium hydroxide solution and 96 grams of colloidal silica (40%, Ludox HS-40). The gel was stirred vigorously for 0.5 hour, mixed with an equal volume (150 ml) of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 and reacted at 100° C. for 168 hours. The mixture had the following composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  1.1  moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          30.6 moles SiO.sub.2                                                           3.0  moles (TEA).sub.2 O                                                       3.25 moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      609  moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration, washed with water then calcined at 540° C. for 16 hours in air. The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 1352 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H.sub.2 O      23.6                                                            Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-Hexane       49                                                              Benzene        67.5                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 38.5±2.0 Å d-spacing and a weak line at 20.3±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 12

Two hundred grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 was combined with 4.15 grams of sodium aluminate and 100 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solution (10% silica) with stirring. Twenty-five grams of HiSil, a precipitated hydrated silica containing about 6 wt. % free water and about 4.5 wt. % bound water of hydration and having an ultimate particle size of about 0.02 micron, was added. The resulting mixture was placed in a static autoclave at 150° C. for 24 hours. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  1.25 moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          27.8 moles SiO.sub.2                                                           5.1  moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      4.40 moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       650  moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air. TEM indicated that this product contained the ultra-large pore material. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example can be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 44.2±2.0 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 25.2±1.5 and 22.0±1.0 Å.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 932 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               39.3                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             46.6                                                                  n-Hexane 37.5                                                                  Benzene  50                                                             ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 13

Two hundred grams of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide solution prepared as in Example 1 was combined with 4.15 grams of sodium aluminate and 100 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solution (10% silica) with stirring. Twenty-five grams of HiSil, a precipitated hydrated silica containing about 6 wt. % free water and about 4.5 wt. % bound water of hydration and having an ultimate particle size of about 0.02 micron, was added. The resulting mixture was placed in a steam box at 100° C. for 48 hours. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                                  1.25 moles Na.sub.2 O                                                          27.8 moles SiO.sub.2                                                           5.1  moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      4.4  moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                                       650  moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air. The calcined product proved to have the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H.sub.2 O      35.2                                                            Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-Hexane       40.8                                                            Benzene        53.5                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 39.1±2.0 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 22.4±1.0 and 19.4±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that this product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 14

A mixture of 125 grams of 29% CTMA chloride aqueous solution, 200 grams of water, 3 grams of sodium aluminate (in 50 grams H₂ O), 65 grams of Ultrasil, amorphous precipitated silica available from PQ Corporation, and 21 grams NaOH (in 50 grams H₂ O) was stirred thoroughly and crystallized at 150° C. for 168 hours. The reaction mixture had the following relative molar composition in terms of moles per mole silica:

    ______________________________________                                                  0.10 moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                                      21.89                                                                               moles H.sub.2 O                                                           0.036                                                                               moles NaAlO.sub.2                                                         0.53 moles NaOH                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The solid product was isolated by filtration, washed with water, dried for 16 hours at room temperature and calcined at 540° C. for 10 hours in air. The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 840 m² /g, and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               15.2                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             42.0                                                                  n-Hexane 26.5                                                                  Benzene  62                                                             ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 40.5±2.0 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated that the product contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 15

To make the primary template mixture for this example, 240 grams of water was added to a 92 gram solution of 50% dodecyltrimethylamonium hydroxide, 36% isopropyl alcohol and 14% water such that the mole ratio of Solvent/R_(2/f) O was 155. The mole ratio of H₂ O/R_(2/f) O in this mixture was 149 and the IPA/R_(2/f) O mole ratio was 6. To the primary template mixture was added 4.15 grams of sodium aluminate, 25 grams of HiSil, 100 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium silicate solution (10% SiO₂) and 13.2 grams of 25% aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution. The mole ratio of R_(2/f) O/(SIO₂ +Al₂ O₃) was 0.28 for the mixture.

This mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 1 hour. The resulting mixture was then placed in an autoclave at 100° C. and stirred at 100 rpm for 24 hours. The mixture in the autoclave had the following relative molar composition in terms of moles per mole SiO₂ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.05 mole Na.sub.2 O                                                           0.036                                                                               mole Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                     0.18 mole (C.sub.12 TMA).sub.2 O                                               0.12 mole (TMA).sub.2 O                                                        36.0 moles H.sub.2 O                                                           1.0  mole IPA                                                         ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was recovered by filtration, washed with water and dried in air at ambient temperature. The product was then calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 1223 m² /g and the following equilibrium adsorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                                H.sub.2 O                                                                               25.5                                                                  Cyclohexane                                                                             41.1                                                                  n-Hexane 35.1                                                                  Benzene  51                                                             ______________________________________                                    

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 30.8±1.5 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 17.9±1.0 and 15.5±1.0 Å. TEM indicated this product to contain the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 16

A 50.75 gram quantity of decyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (prepared by contacting a ca. 29 wt. % solution of decyltrimethylammonium bromide with a hydroxide-for-halide exchange resin) was combined with 8.75 grams of tetraethylorthosilicate. The mixture was stirred for about 1 hour and then transferred to a polypropylene jar which was then placed in a steambox for about 24 hours. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole SiO₂ :

    ______________________________________                                                  0.81 mole (C.sub.10 TMA).sub.2 O                                               47.6 moles H.sub.2 O                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The resulting solid product was filtered and washed several times with warm (60°-70° C.) distilled water and with acetone. The final product was calcined to 538° C. in N₂ air mixture and then held in air for about 8 hours. The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 915 m² /g and an equilibrium benzene adsorption capacity of 35 grams/100 grams. Argon physisorption data indicated an argon uptake of 0.34 cc/gram, and a pore size of 15 Å.

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 27.5±1.5 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 15.8±1.0 and 13.7±1.0 Å. TEM indicated that the product of this example contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 17

To eighty grams of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTMAOH) solution prepared as in Example 1 was added 1.65 grams of NaAlO₂. The mixture was stirred at room temperature until the NaAlO₂ was dissolved. To this solution was added 40 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solution (10 wt. % SiO₂), 10 grams of HiSil, 200 grams of water and 70 grams of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (mesitylene). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for several minutes. The gel was then loaded into a 600 cc autoclave and heated at 105° C. for sixty-eight hours with stirring at 150 rpm. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                         1.25          moles Na.sub.2 O                                                 27.8          moles SiO.sub.2                                                  5.1           moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                             2.24          moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                              2256          moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             80.53         moles 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene                                     ______________________________________                                    

The resulting product was filtered and washed several times with warm (60°-70° C.) distilled water and with acetone. The final product was calcined to 538° C. in N₂ /air mixture and then held in air for about 10 hours. The calcined product proved to have an equilbrium benzene adsorption capacity of >25 grams/100 grams.

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product may be characterized as including a broad, very strong relative intensity line at about 102 Å d-spacing, but accurate positions of lines in the extreme low angle region of the X-ray diffraction pattern are very difficult to determine with conventional X-ray diffractometers. Furthermore, finer collimating slits were required to resolve a peak at this low 2-theta angle. The slits used in this example, starting at the X-ray tube, were 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.2 mm, respectively. TEM indicated that the product of this example contained several materials with different d₁₀₀ values as observed in their electron diffraction patterns. These materials were found to possess d₁₀₀ values between about 85 Å d-spacing and about 120 Å d-spacing.

EXAMPLE 18

To eighty grams of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTMAOH) solution prepared as in Example 1 was added 1.65 grams of NaAlO₂. The mixture was stirred at room temperature until the NaAlO₂ was dissolved. To this solution was added 40 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solution (10 wt. % SiO₂), 10 grams of HiSil, 200 grams of water and 120 grams of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (mesitylene). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for several minutes. The gel was then loaded into a 600 cc autoclave and heated at 105° C. for ninety hours with stirring at 150 rpm. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                         1.25          moles Na.sub.2 O                                                 27.8          moles SiO.sub.2                                                  5.1           moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                             2.24          moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                              2256          moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             132.7         moles 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene                                     ______________________________________                                    

The resulting product was filtered and washed several times with warm (60°-70° C.) distilled water and with acetone. The final product was calcined to 538° C. in N₂ /air mixture and then held in air for about 10 hours. The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 915 m² /g and an equilbrium benzene adsorption capacity of >25 grams/100 grams. Argon physisorption data indicated an argon uptake of 0.95 cc/gram, and a pore size centered on 78 Å (Dollimore-Heal Method, see Example 19(b)), but running from 70 to greater than 105 Å. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as having only enhanced scattered intensity in the very low angle region of the X-ray diffraction, where intensity from the transmitted incident X-ray beam is usually observed. However, TEM indicated that the product contained several materials with different d₁₀₀ values as observed in their electron diffraction patterns. These materials were found to possess d₁₀₀ values between about 85 Å d-spacing and about 110 Å d-spacing.

EXAMPLE 19

To eighty grams of cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTMAOH) solution prepared as in Example 1 was added 1.65 grams of NaAlO₂. The mixture was stirred at room temperature until the NaAlO₂ was dissolved. To this solution was added 40 grams of aqueous tetramethylammonium (TMA) silicate solution (10 wt. % SiO₂), 10 grams of HiSil, and 18 grams of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (mesitylene). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for several minutes. The gel was then loaded into a 300 cc autoclave and heated at 105° C. for four hours with stirring at 150 rpm. The mixture had a composition in terms of moles per mole Al₂ O₃ :

    ______________________________________                                         1.25          moles Na.sub.2 O                                                 27.8          moles SiO.sub.2                                                  5.1           moles (CTMA).sub.2 O                                             2.24          moles (TMA).sub.2 O                                              650           moles H.sub..sub.2 O                                             19.9          moles 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene                                     ______________________________________                                    

The resulting product was filtered and washed several times with warm (60°-70° C.) distilled water and with acetone. The final product was calcined to 538° C. in N₂ /air mixture and then held in air for about 8 hours.

The calcined product proved to have a surface area of 975 m² /g and an equilbrium benzene adsorption capacity of >40 grams/100 grams. Argon physisorption data indicated an argon uptake of 0.97 cc/gram, and a pore size of 63 Å (Dollimore-Heal Method), with the peak occurring at P/P_(o) =0.65.

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the calcined product of this example may be characterized as including a very strong relative intensity line at 63±5 Å d-spacing and weak lines at 36.4±2.0, 31.3±1.5 Å and 23.8±1.0 Å d-spacing. TEM indicated that the product of this example contained the ultra-large pore material.

EXAMPLE 20 Argon Physisorption Determination

To determine the pore diameters of the mesoporous products with pores up to about 60 Å in diameter, 0.2 gram samples of the products of Examples 1 through 17 were placed in glass sample tubes and attached to a physisorption apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,010.

The samples were heated to 300° C. for 3 hours in vacuo to remove adsorbed water. Thereafter, the samples were cooled to 87° K. by immersion of the sample tubes in liquid argon. Metered amounts of gaseous argon were then admitted to the samples in stepwise manner as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,010, column 20. From the amount of argon admitted to the samples and the amount of argon left in the gas space above the samples, the amount of argon adsorbed can be calculated. For this calculation, the ideal gas law and the calibrated sample volumes were used. (See also S. J. Gregg et al., Adsorption, Surface Area and Porosity, 2nd ed., Academic Press, 1982). In each instance, a graph of the amount adsorbed versus the relative pressure above the sample, at equilibrium, constitutes the adsorption isotherm. It is common to use relative pressures which are obtained by forming the ratio of the equilibrium pressure and the vapor pressure P_(o) of the adsorbate at the temperature where the isotherm is measured. Sufficiently small amounts of argon were admitted in each step to generate 168 data points in the relative pressure range from 0 to 0.6. At least about 100 points are required to define the isotherm with sufficient detail.

The step (inflection) in the isotherm, indicates filling of a pore system. The size of the step indicates the amount adsorbed, whereas the position of the step in terms of P/P_(o) reflects the size of the pores in which the adsorption takes place. Larger pores are filled at higher P/P_(o). In order to better locate the position of the step in the isotherm, the derivative with respect to log (P/P_(o)) is formed. The adsorption peak (stated in terms of log (P/P_(o))) may be related to the physical pore diameter (Å) by the following formula: ##EQU1## where d=pore diameter in nanometers, K=32.17, S=0.2446, L=d+0.19, and D=0.57.

This formula is derived from the method of Horvath and Kawazoe (G. Horvath et al., J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 16 (6) 470)1983)). The constants required for the implementation of this formula were determined from a measured isotherm of ALPO-5 and its known pore size. This method is particularly useful for microporous materials having pores of up to about 60 Å in diameter.

The results of this procedure for the samples from Examples 1 through 16 are tabulated below. The samples from Examples 10, 13 and 15 gave two separate peaks, believed to be the result of two separate ultra-large pore phases in the products.

    ______________________________________                                         Examples     Pore Diameter, Å                                              ______________________________________                                         1            32.2                                                              2            35.4                                                              3            42.5                                                              4            39.6                                                              5            16.9                                                              6            27.3                                                              7            36.6                                                              8            42.6                                                              9            28.3                                                              10           22.8, 30.8                                                        11           36.8                                                              12           36.1                                                              13           35.0, 42.1                                                        14           40.0                                                              15           22.4, 30.4                                                        16           15.0                                                              ______________________________________                                    

By way of comparison, a commercially prepared sample of zeolite USY (equilibrium benzene sorption capacity of 20.7 grams/100 grams, X-ray diffraction pattern with all the lines of zeolite Y and with the highest d-spacing at about 14 Å) had a pore diameter of about 8.3 Å as determined by the above method.

The method of Horvath and Kawazoe for determining pore size from physisorption isotherms was intended to be applied to pore systems of up to 20 Å diameter; but with some care as above detailed, its use can be extended to pores of up to 60 Å diameter.

In the pore regime above 60 Å diameter, the Kelvin equation can be applied. It is usually given as: ##EQU2## where: γ=surface tension of sorbate

V=molar volume of sorbate

θ=contact angle (usually taken for practical reasons to be 0)

R=gas constant

T=absolute temperature

r_(k) =capillary condensate (pore) radius

P/P_(o) =relative pressure (taken from the physisorption isotherm)

The Kelvin equation treats adsorption in pore systems as a capillary condensation phenomenon and relates the pressure at which adsorption takes place to the pore diameter through the surface tension and contact angle of the adsorbate (in this case, argon). The principles upon which the Kelvin equation are based are valid for pores in the size range 50 to 1000 Angstrom diameter. Below this range the equation no longer reflects physical reality, since true capillary condensation cannot occur in smaller pores; above this range the logarithmic nature of the equation precludes obtaining sufficient accuracy for pore size determination.

The particular implementation of the Kelvin equation often chosen for measurement of pore size is that reported by Dollimore and Heal (D. Dollimore and G. R. Heal, J. Applied Chem, 14, 108 (1964)). This method corrects for the effects of the surface layer of adsorbate on the pore wall, of which the Kelvin equation proper does not take account, and thus provides a more accurate measurement of pore diameter. While the method of Dollimore and Heal was derived for use on desorption isotherms, it can be applied equally well to adsorption isotherms by simply inverting the data set.

TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

In order to illuminate the microstructure of materials by transmission electromicroscopy (TEM), samples must be thin enough for an electron beam to pass through them, generally about 500-1000 Å or so thick. The crystal morphology of the present materials usually required that they be prepared for study by ultramicrotomy. While time consuming, this technique of sample preparation is quite familiar to those skilled in the art of electron microscopy. The materials are embedded in a resin, in this case a commercially available low viscosity acrylic resin L.R. WHITE (hard), which is then cured at about 80° C. for about 11/2 hours. Thin sections of the block are cut on an ultramicrotome using a diamond knife and sections in the thickness range 500-1000 Å are collected on fine mesh electron microscope support grids. For these materials, an LKB model microtome with a 45° C. diamond knife edge was used; the support grids were 400 mesh copper grids. After evaporation of a thin carbon coating on the sample to prevent charging in the microscope (light gray color on a white sheet of paper next to the sample in the evaporator), the samples are ready for examination in the TEM.

High resolution TEM micrographs show projections of structure along the direction that the sample is viewed. For this reason, it is necessary to have a sample in specific orientations to see certain details of the microstructure of the material. For crystalline materials, these orientations are most easily chosen by observing the electron diffraction pattern (EDP) that is produced simultaneously with the electron microscope image. Such EDPs are readily produced on modern TEM instruments using, e.g. the selected area field limiting aperture technique familiar to those skilled in the art of electron microscopy. When an EDP with the desired arrangement of diffraction spots is observed, the corresponding image of the crystal giving that EDP will reveal details of the microstructure along the direction of projection indicated by the EDP. In this way, different projections of a crystal's structure can be observed and identified using TEM.

In order to observe the salient features of the crystalline product, it is necessary to view the material in an orientation wherein the corresponding EDP gives a hexagonal arrangement of diffraction spots from a single individual crystal. If multiple crystals are present within the field limiting aperture, overlapping diffraction patterns will occur that can be quite difficult to interpret. The number of diffraction spots observed depends to a degree upon the regularity of the crystalline arrangement in the material, among other things. At the very least the inner ring of bright spots should be observed to obtain a good image. Individual crystals can be manipulated by specimen tilt adjustments on the TEM until this orientation is achieved. More often, it is easier to take advantage of the fact that the specimen contains many randomly oriented crystals and to simply search through the sample until a crystal giving the desired EDP (and hence orientation) is located. This latter technique was used to produce the electron micrographs.

Microtomed samples of materials from the Examples were examined by the techniques described above in a JEOL 200 CX transmission electron microscope operated at 200,000 volts with an effective 2 Å objective aperture in place. The instrument has a point-to-point resolution of 4.5 Å. Other experimental arrangements familiar to one skilled in the art of high resolution (phase contrast) TEM could be used to produce equivalent images provided care is taken to keep the objective lens on the underfocus (weak leans) side of the minimum contrast lens current setting.

EXAMPLE 21

This example illustrates the use of an amorphous hydrocracking catalyst and provides a base case for comparison.

A heavy vacuum gas oil from a Persian Gulf crude was processed at 1200 psig hydrogen pressure, 4500 SCFB hydrogen circulation and 0.5 LHSV over an amorphous cascaded catalyst system consisting of DHC-2 followed by DHC-6. Both catalysts are manufactured by UOP. The VGO properties are listed in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Properties of Persian Gulf VGO                                                 ______________________________________                                         Hydrogen, wt %    12.6                                                         Nitrogen, ppm     650                                                          Basic Nitrogen, ppm                                                                              198                                                          Sulfur, wt %      2.3                                                          API Gravity       22.6                                                         Pour Point, °F.                                                                           90                                                           Composition, wt %                                                              Paraffins         27.7                                                         Mononaphthenes    8.3                                                          Polynaphthenes    14.6                                                         Aromatics         49.4                                                         Simulated Dist., Wt %                                                          IBP               531                                                           5                687                                                          10                715                                                          20                745                                                          30                770                                                          40                793                                                          50                816                                                          60                841                                                          70                866                                                          80                897                                                          90                942                                                          95                970                                                          EP                1071                                                         ______________________________________                                    

The DHC-2 catalyst serves as a hydrotreating catalyst to reduce nitrogen and sulfur content before the oil is processed in the hydrocracking section of the reactor containing the DHC6 catalyst. The DHC-6 catalyst does the bulk of the boiling range conversion. The catalyst fill ratio was 38.4 g of DHC-2 and 60.3 g of DHC-6 to give a HDT/HDC weight ratio of 0.64 with a total catalyst volume of 150 cc.

The reactor severity is measured by 650°F.- boiling range conversion which is defined as: ##EQU3## The reactor severity was varied by adjusting reactor temperature in the range 700°-750° F. at constant LHSV. The temperatures of the hydrotreating and hydrocracking reactors were maintained at the same temperature for all runs. The results of these runs are summarized graphically in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, as discussed below.

EXAMPLE 22

A sample of MCM-41 (40 Å) was prepared in accordance with the method described below.

The following mixture was charged to an autoclave:

    ______________________________________                                         9965 g                                                                               Cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) hydroxide, pre-                                  pared by contacting a 29 wt. % N,N,N-trimethyl-1-                              hexadecylammonium chloride solution with a hydroxide-                          for-halide exchange resin                                                208 g Sodium aluminate,                                                        492 g Tetramethylammonim silicate (10% aqueous solution),                      1245 g                                                                               Precipitated hydrated silica (HiSil ™).                               ______________________________________                                    

The mixture was crystallized at 100° C. for 20 hrs. with stirring under autogeneous pressure. The resulting product was recovered by filtration and dried in air at ambient temperature. A sample of the product was calcined at 540° C. for 1 hour in nitrogen, followed by 6 hours in air for characterization.

The calcined product had a surface area of 1120 m² /g and the following equilibrium absorption capacities in grams/100 grams:

    ______________________________________                                         H2O            10.8                                                            Cyclohexane    >50                                                             n-hexane       >50                                                             Benzene        67                                                              ______________________________________                                    

The product was identified as MCM-41 with an X-ray diffraction pattern which included a very strong relative intensity line at 38.4±2.0 Å d-spacing, and weak lines at 22.6+1.0, 20.0+1.0, and 15.2±1.0 Å.

The MCM-41 crystalline product was exchanged with room temperature aqueous solutions of ammonium nitrate and subsequently dried overnight at 250° F. A portion of the resultant crystals was combined with Al203 to form a mixture of 65 parts, by weight MCM-41 and 35 parts alumina. Water was added to this mixture to allow the resulting catalyst to be formed into extrudates. The catalyst was activated by calcination at 950° F. in 5 v/v/min of nitrogen for 6 hours followed by the replacement of the nitrogen with 5 v/v/min of air. The calcination was completed by raising the temperature to 1000° F. and maintaining that temperature in 5 v/v/min air for 18 hours. Nickel and tungsten were incorporated via incipient wetness coimpregnation using solutions of Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂ O and (NH₄)₆ H₂ W₁₂ O₄₀.H₂ O. After drying overnight at 250° F., the extrudate was calcined in 5 v/v/min air at 1000° F. for 3 hours. Physical and chemical properties of the NiW/MCM-41/Al2O3 catalyst are provided below:

    ______________________________________                                         Nickel, wt %      3.7                                                          Tungsten, wt %    9.2                                                          Sodium, ppm       200                                                          Surface Area, m2/g                                                                               530                                                          Pore Volume, cc/g 0.780                                                        Particle Density, g/cc                                                                           0.883                                                        Real Density, g/cc                                                                               2.837                                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 23

The catalyst of Example 22 was used as the hydrocracking catalyst in a DHC2/NiW MCM-41 cascade MPHC reactor system. The catalyst fill ratio was 4.08 g of DHC-2 and 6.40 g of NiW-MCM-41 to give the same HDT/HDC weight ratio of 0.64 as in Example 21, with a total catalyst volume of 20.2 cc. The feed and process conditions of Example 21 were used. Severity was varied by adjusting reactor temperature from 720°-770° F. The results of these runs are summarized graphically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

An activity comparison between Examples 21 and 23 is shown in FIG. 1. It can be seen that conversion activities are similar and within 10° F. for both catalyst systems.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show the 650° F.- product selectivities as a function of 650° F.- boiling range conversion for the results of Examples 21 and 23. The data show that the selectivities for kerosene (330°-440° F. fraction), FIG. 2D and distillate (440°-650° F. fraction), FIG. 2B are almost identical for the MCM-41 catalyst system as compared to the base case amorphous DHC6 catalyst. These results are also shown in tabular form for a conversion level of 45 wt. %, in Table 4 below:

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         MPHC of VGO BLEND                                                              (45 wt % Conversion)                                                           Catalyst     DHC-2/DHC-6 DHC-2/NiW-MCM-41                                      ______________________________________                                         Reactor Temp., °F.                                                                   745         753                                                   Product Composition,                                                           wt %                                                                           C1-C4        2.6         4.0                                                   C5-330       11          10.5                                                  330-440      9.5         9.0                                                   440-650      22.5        22.5                                                  650-750      18          18                                                    750+         35          35                                                    H2 Cons, SCFB                                                                               700-750     850                                                   ______________________________________                                    

These results once again show that an ultra-large pore molecular sieve can produce kerosene and distillate yields comparable to an amorphous catalyst system.

EXAMPLE 24

The Total Liquid Product (TLP) samples of Examples 21 and 23 at the same 43 wt. % conversion were distilled to yield 730° C.+ bottoms material that were subsequently analyzed. Table 5 contains the results of this comparison.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bottoms Properties at 43 wt % 650° F.+ Conversion                       730° F.+ Properties                                                                      Example 22                                                                               Example 24                                          ______________________________________                                         Nitrogen, ppm    15        3                                                   Mol. Weight      406       388                                                 Pour Point, °F.                                                                          95        90                                                  KV @ 100° C., cS                                                                         5.019     4.804                                               Composition, wt %                                                              Paraffins        44.5      43.3                                                Mononaphthenes   15.7      19.3                                                Polynaphthenes   20.2      23.4                                                Aromatics        19.6      14.0                                                Simulated Dist., Wt %                                                          IBP/5            650/711   701/731                                             10/50            733/820   745/817                                             ______________________________________                                    

It can be seen that the MCM-41 catalyst of Example 23 was much more effective in reducing the nitrogen level of the bottoms to a very low level of 3 ppm as compared to a 15 ppm level for the catalyst of Example 21. Also, the degree of aromatic saturation for the MCM-41 catalyst was improved by about 23 percent over the DHC-6 catalyst. Aromatics level dropped from 19.6 to 14.0 wt. percent. This can impact the quality of the bottoms for lube upgrading applications since lower aromatics levels are desired for producing premium quality high viscosity index lubes.

The use of an ultra-large pore molecular sieve for hydrocracking, especially at the low to moderate hydrogen pressure described above, provides an attractive option for obtaining kerosene and distillate selectivities which compare to state-of-the-art amorphous based catalysts. Benefits of utilizing these catalysts in processes of this kind include an increase in bottoms quality and a potential increase in stability, since molecular sieves have been shown to be more stable than amorphous catalysts. In addition, the very high surface area possessed by the present mesoporous supports materials is of especial benefit in fuels hydrocracking where the catalyst needs a high degree of acidic functionality to provide the cracking function. In conventional zeolitic hydrocracking catalysts, this would be provided by a high zeolite loading in the catalyst but for the fact that this would reduce the amount of matrix material available to support the metal function. The high surface area of the mesoporous supports, however, enables high metal loadings to be readily accommodated while still providing adequate acidic functionality. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hydrocracking process which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen with a bifunctional hydrocracking catalyst having acidic functionality and hydrogenation-dehydrogenation functionality, and comprising an inorganic, non-pillared porous crystalline phase material having pores with diameters of at least about 13 Angstrom Units and exhibiting, after calcination, an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least one peak at a d-spacing greater than about 18 Å with a relative intensity of
 100. 2. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the crystalline phase exhibits, after calcination, a hexagonal arrangement of uniformly sized pores with diameters of at least about 13 Å and which exhibits, after calcination, a hexagonal electron diffraction pattern that can be indexed with a d₁₀₀ value greater than about 18 Angstrom Units.
 3. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 wherein said crystalline phase has an X-ray diffraction pattern following calcination with at least one peak whose d-spacing corresponds to the d₁₀₀ value from the electron diffraction pattern.
 4. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 wherein said crystalline phase exhibits a benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene per 100 grams at 50 torr and 25° C.
 5. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 wherein said crystalline phase has a composition expressed as follows:

    M.sub.n/q (W.sub.a X.sub.b Y.sub.c Z.sub.d O.sub.h)

wherein M is one or more ions; n is the charge of the composition excluding M expressed as oxides; q is the weighted molar average valence of M; n/q is the number of moles or mole fraction of M; W is one or more divalent elements; X is one or more trivalent elements; Y is one or more tetravalent elements; Z is one or more pentavalent elements; a, b, c, and d are mole fractions of W, X, Y, and Z, respectively; h is a number of from 1 to 2.5; and (a+b+c+d)=1.
 6. A hydrocracking process according to claim 4 wherein W comprises a divalent first row transition metal or magnesium; X comprises aluminum, boron, gallium or iron; Y comprises silicon or germanium; and Z comprises phosphorus.
 7. A hydrocracking process according to claim 4 wherein a and d are 0 and h=2.
 8. A hydrocracking process according to claim 7 wherein X comprises aluminum, boron, gallium or iron and Y comprises silicon or germanium.
 9. A hydrocracking process according to claim 8 wherein X comprises aluminum and Y comprises silicon.
 10. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst comprises at least one metal of Groups VIA, VIIA or VIIIA of the Periodic Table.
 11. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst comprises at least one metal of Group VIA and at least one metal of Group VIIIA of the Periodic Table.
 12. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the feed is contacted with the catalyst at a pressure of from 400 to 1500 psig (reactor inlet), a temperature from 550° to 825° F., and a space velocity from 0.2 to 2.0 LHSV.
 13. A hydrocracking process according to claim 12 in which the feed is contacted with the catalyst at a pressure of from 800 to 1200 psig (reactor inlet), a temperature from 650° to 800° F., and a space velocity from 0.5 to 2.0 LHSV.
 14. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the conversion to lower boiling range products is from 30 to 70 weight percent.
 15. A process according to claim 14 in which the conversion to 650° F.- products is from 30 to 70 weight percent.
 16. A hydrocracking process according to claim 1 in which the conversion to lower boiling range products is from 40 to 70 weight percent.
 17. A process according to claim 16 in which the conversion to 650° F.- products is from 40 to 70 weight percent.
 18. A fuels hydrocracking process which comprises contacting a high boiling 650° F.+ hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen with a bifunctional hydrocracking catalyst having acidic functionality and hydrogenation-dehydrogenation functionality, and comprising an inorganic, porous crystalline phase material having pores with diameters of at least about 13 Angstrom Units arranged in a unifrom hexagonal arrangement and exhibiting, after calcination, a benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene per 100 grams at 50 torr and 25° C., an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least one peak at a d-spacing greater than about 18 Å with a relative intensity of 100 and a hexagonal electron diffraction pattern that can be indexed with a d₁₀₀ value greater than about 18 Angstrom Units.
 19. A hydrocracking process according to claim 18 wherein said crystalline phase has an X-ray diffraction pattern following calcination with at least one peak whose d-spacing corresponds to the d₁₀₀ value from the electron diffraction pattern.
 20. A hydrocracking process according to claim 18 in which the crystalline component of the catalyst comprises an aluminosilicate.
 21. A hydrocracking process according to claim 18 in which the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component of the catalyst comprises comprises at least one metal of Groups VIA, VIIA or VIIIA of the Periodic Table.
 22. A hydrocracking process according to claim 21 in which the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component of the catalyst comprises at least one metal of Group VIA in combination with at least one metal of Group VIIIA of the Periodic Table.
 23. A hydrocracking process according to claim 22 in which the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component of the catalyst comprises nickel and tungsten.
 24. A hydrocracking process according to claim 18 in which the feed is contacted with the catalyst at a pressure of from 400 to 1500 psig (reactor inlet), a temperature from 550° to 825° F., a conversion to 650° F.- products is from 30 to 70 weight percent, and a space velocity from 0.2 to 2.0 LHSV.
 25. A hydrocracking process according to claim 24 in which the feed is contacted with the catalyst at a pressure of from 800 to 1200 psig (reactor inlet), a temperature from 650° to 800° F., a conversion to 650° F.- products is from 30 to 70 weight percent, and a space velocity from 0.5 to 2.0 LHSV. 